Yoga Nuggets

Ever wonder what would happen if all the greatest minds, hearts and spirits of the past lived right now? Imagine. Jesus, Buddha, Confucious, Einstein, Helen Keller, Swami Vivekananda, Aristotle, Martin Luther King, Jr., Leonardo Da Vinci and whoever else you can think of lived now. All with distinct gifts and purposes. All driven by their gifts...driven by their desire to make a difference in the world until the day they died. Driven by their recognition that they are one among many....not THE one of all. We currently do have many people who do what they can to make a difference. Oprah, Dr. Frank Lipman, the Dalai Lama, Dr. Bruce Lipton, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Gregg Braden, and many more. The list is long for it does not even scratch the surface of those who make a difference incognito. I haven't even mentioned the profound musicians of history that created music that can make your heart weep and smile...all in one song. Or, the writers of books or classic movies that have a message tha...

If you have seen the profound movie, Shawshank Redemption , you will know the words..."get busy living or get busy dying." Initially, it seems like there are only two actions. Reality is...there are unlimited moves on this roller coaster of "getting busy".  As a spiritual practitioner of yoga, I have had an epiphany of the true necessity of pursuing edges and new horizons. It transcends the pursuit of physical edges. The push to reach and surpass in the physical mode opens cracks to true purpose...to unfold your secret of how to get busy living. I'm not talking about the daily tasks of work, chores and responsibilities. If you hit the lottery and did not have to deal with financially ignited actions or needs, you would still have to find your secret to life. Once you've gotten your traveling and "bucket list" completed, you would still seek how to live with purpose. True living is propelled by a purpose that nourishes the heart. What come...

The Olympics is so much more than the pursuit of taking home a medal. It is not about which country brings home the most wins. The conscious passion of the athletes to share their best generates a magnetic energy that spreads beyond measurement. The intense focus on the present moment...each moment of each move could be the "make or break" in the delivery of skills. A few moments of pondering a less than ideal prior move can and does impair the next one. Conscious living is no different. Yoga is an outstanding source to practice active consciousness. In a day of routines, you breathe, digest, walk and even think without effort. It is the easy way to live. Problem is...it gets boring and habitual. Even worse, monotony drowns drive. It is estimated that our minds are used 10% at the conscious level and the rest resides in the unconscious. What you percolate in the conscious level sinks into the subconscious. Once there, the body's chemicals, hormones, and cells respond i...

The Olympics in London are here! The champions from around the world are preparing to deliver their best. The great city of London is proud to share it's beauty. Whether you are going there now or in the future, I will be giving you some good info on what to see or try. Traveling can be stressful. There is a lot of different and new places to explore. The desire to see it all can minimize the experience of what you do get to see. If you are a yogi, travel like you practice yoga...with conscious intention of enjoying the moment. Just like you make it back to the mat, you can make it back to London! Simply looking at the countless places to check out makes you start planning the second trip before you have left for the first. Speaking of making it to the mat, much gratitude to the owner of Love of Yoga , for providing some great information about this city of champions. Practicing yoga in different places is a great experience to integrate in your agenda while traveling. The Love...

With the Olympics rapidly approaching, let's take a moment to delve into the making of a champion. First of all, coming into first place does not define a champion. A champion is one who demonstrates marked superiority in what they pursue. Dependent on what you desire to become a champion of requires relentless exterior work; however, what ultimately determines  becoming a champion starts and ends with the heart. Physically, the heart is a fascinating organ in and of itself. If a heart averages 72 beats a minute, that translates to 103,060 beats a day. Live a lifetime of 80 years, and the heart would have relentlessly pumped life through you over 3 billion times. The brain does not control it. The heart beats to its own drum of electrical currency and even has its own nervous system that can and will work independently of the brain. The mind is truly a terrible thing to waste; however, not listening to your heart can lead you to even greater losses. It is not held back by any eg...

The Olympic motto is Citius, Altius, Fortius which is Latin for Faster, Higher, Stronger. Pierre de Coubertin, who re-introduced the Olympics to the modern world in 1896, had a revelation for another motto: "The most important thing is not to win, but to take part." What a perfect thought to have regarding your practice of yoga. With each practice, you do achieve poses faster, reach higher and become stronger. But, the most integral part is that you are actually practicing! The achievements come from "taking part" in whatever you pursue....not being a by-stander waiting for the right time. What a perfect parallel...yoga and the Olympics. One of the Olympic Game's chief purpose was to promote unity and peace among mankind. Yoga translated means to yoke or unite. The unity of mind, body, and spirit with the practice of yoga cannot help but light the torch of peace within. Let us practice what Buddha said long before the Olympics: "Thousands of candles can...

What is yoga…really? Yoga is whatever you need it to be in the moment of your practice. If you need a raise in energy, an active practice can ignite that spark of energy within you. If your body needs to let go of tension, a more passive practice of movements can guide the body and mind to release it. Physically, yoga will help you learn the power of surrender and the strength of persistence. Awareness is a key that unlocks the mind.  Consider breathing one of the keys to opening many doors starting with the physical. Breathing creates space. Space gives room to move. Movement takes you to new places to explore. The physical space opened makes it so much easier for the non-physical and mental doors to appear. Your practice opens your mind so that you strengthen the ability to truly feel your intuition. Your intuition of who you are, what your heart says, and awareness of the interconnectedness of all life expands. Perhaps this is the best form of en...